Polish instructors regularly train soldiers from Ukraine as part of the EU military support mission at the Łódź Military Training Centre. The courses are supported by specialists from Canada, who have been moving their own operation Unifier for 10 years.
– In 2022, the Ukrainian side asked us to support the field of combat for soldiers without medical education in medical training. Over time, the training program evolved in consequence to the needs and problems of soldiers during the war in Ukraine," said Major Łukasz Romaniuk of WCKMed.
A spokesperson for the Łódź centre mentions the addition of elements specified as night and low visibility and noise, where communication between lifeguards is difficult. “In addition, together with instructors from Canada, topics related to evacuation activities in mined ground and evacuation of injured in artillery and drone operations are being implemented,” he adds.
Training for Ukrainians in Łódź are organised as part of the EU military assistance support mission (EUMAM). Why, then, are the Canadians in all this? Their presence and engagement stems from Operation Unifier. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have been conducting this mission since 2015 at the request of the Ukrainian Government, which was deployed after Crimea annexation. Initially, Canadians conducted training in Ukraine, but after full scale invasion in 2022 CAF forces were transferred to Poland, large Britain and Latvia.
Production: Jakub Zagalski, Marcin Łobaczewski/ ArmouredTV
Currently, the operation "Unifier" is carried out by about 350 CAF soldiers, including a twelve Ukrainians trained in Łódź. “We cooperate with WCKMed, focusing on teaching advanced tactical and medical skills and endurance in the field of combat,” says Major Jeremiah Bell, officer in charge of the CAF medical training element.
The training takes about a period (free from classes are only Sundays) and is simply a real challenge for both Ukrainian soldiers and instructors. “People with different pasts come to us, but many of them have no experience in infirmary care and first aid. We request to do this to convey cognition to a adequate level in a short time," says Major Bell, who is the head of respective instructors.
The classes are conducted in the area of the camp close Łódź, which is constantly modernised (ocopy, underground stabilization point) in specified a way that it accurately reflects the reality of Ukrainian battlefield. Participants besides train in a simulation centre, where, in addition to strictly medical-related tasks, combat fields can practice elements of black tactics. The Canadians pass on cognition and share their experience, and at the same time they gotta learn things themselves. For example, with respect to evacuation from military vehicles which can be utilized outside the east border and are completely different from those in CAF equipment.
Every shift of Canadian soldiers has served for six months. The nearest rotation will take place at the turn of January and February. CAF instructors say that for respective months the way Ukrainian training was modified on the basis of feedback. “The situation on the battlefield is changing all the time, and we are trying to respond to the needs and requests of the Ukrainian side,” stresses Major Bell, confirming the erstwhile words of Major Romaniuk.
